Forkball

The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. Related to the split-fingered fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard snapping the wrist.

The forkball differs from the split-fingered fastball, however, in that the ball is jammed deeper between the first two fingers. The result is that the forkball is generally thrown slightly slower than the splitter, but will have more of a 'tumbling' action akin to the movement of a knuckleball.

Use in the Major Leagues

The forkball is favored by several major league pitchers, including Hideo Nomo, José Contreras, Chien-Ming Wang and Edwar Ramirez. In addition, a number of NPB players throw forkballs, including Kazumi Saitoh of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks who has ridden his forkball to two Sawamura Awards. Former Major League pitchers Dave Stewart and Melido Perez were two of the most highly regarded forkball pitchers in the late 1980's, while Jack Morris used a forkball as his primary strikeout pitch while winning more games than any other pitcher in the 1980's. Roy Face and Lindy McDaniel both were relief pitchers who pitched for 21 years in the Major League who were forkballers. Face started his career in 1949 and McDaniel in 1955.

Origin of the forkball

"Bullet" Joe Bush of the Boston Red Sox is credited with the invention of the forkball, shortly following World War I. [cite book
last = Wood
first = Allan
title = Babe Ruth and the 1918 Red Sox
publisher = Writers Club Press
date = 2000
location = San Jose ola
pages = 372
isbn = 0595148263 ] However, it was popularized by former relief pitcher Elroy Face of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Medical concerns

The forkball is known to be a cause of damage to the shoulder and elbow. Famous forkballers, particularly Japanese players, have often required surgery to remove bone fractures or to repair damaged tendons, sometimes several times in their careers.Fact|article|date=June 2007 One such pitcher was former Yokohama BayStars and Seattle Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki who, according to one fan, "practically had to have bone chips removed from his elbow every year."

Notes